Financial worries and Farbrace decision cast shadow as Sussex aim to kick on
Having finished fourth in their first season back in Division 1 of the County Championship, there was much optimism that Sussex could kick on further this summer, and they still might.
However the news that the club had gone cap in hand to the ECB this winter after announcing a huge operating loss has cast a shadow over preparations for the new season.
The news that Head Coach Paul Farbrace will be leaving at the end of the season has further deepened the gloom surrounding the club, and finding a replacement of his calibre and pedigree will be extremely challenging, given the financial constraints imposed on the club by the ECB.
There is every chance that the players will be galvanised by events that are totally out of their control, but a points deduction in each of the County Championship, T20 Blast and One Day Cup means Sussex are starting the season very much on the back foot.
Tight controls over budgets and player contracts mean that Sussex will only have two overseas players, Daniel Hughes for the whole season and Jadev Unadkat for a limited number of Championship games, and fingers will be firmly crossed that these two key players avoid injury.
Ollie Robinson has taken over the captaincy for Championship games, and will lead the attack, and he'll will be keen to prove he still has a future with England, and that it was a mistake to omit him from the Ashes in the winter.
As for the rest of the squad, much will be expected of James Coles after his exceptional winter and big price in The Hundred, but it should be remembered that he only turns 22 the day before the season starts.
Tom Haines made a good impression with the Lions in Australia, and a good start to the season could see him pushing for an England place, and the same could be true of Jack Carson given the lack of off spinning options around the country.
With huge uncertainty around the futures of many of the players beyond this season, and budget cuts set to bite, the future looks very uncertain at Hove, and all concerned will just be pleased to start playing cricket again tomorrow, when Good Friday sees the start of their opening championship game away to Leicestershire.
Commentary of every ball of every County Championship and T20 game will be broadcast via the BBC Sport website and app, plus regular updates on BBC Radio Sussex